A recent survey indicates that religious individuals tend to be more financially successful than atheists. It is concluded that following religious practices or holding religious beliefs is not only vital for spiritual well-being but also advantageous for maintaining a healthy financial status.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously undermine the above conclusion?

Question

A recent survey indicates that religious individuals tend to be more financially successful than atheists. It is concluded that following religious practices or holding religious beliefs is not only vital for spiritual well-being but also advantageous for maintaining a healthy financial status.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously undermine the above conclusion?

Accepted Answer

**Solution:**

1. Option (a) highlights a critical flaw in the survey: it does not establish the direction of causality. Without knowing whether financial success preceded religious practice or vice versa, the conclusion that religion leads to financial success is weakened.

2. Option (b) actually supports the conclusion by suggesting that some people adopt religion with the expectation of financial gain.

3. Option (c) points out that poor people may be too occupied with survival to engage in religious activities, but this does not contradict the claim about religious beliefs and financial success.

4. Option (d) provides a fact about atheists in developed countries, which is irrelevant since the conclusion concerns the general population across all countries.

5. Option (e) states that religious people lead disciplined lives, which does not weaken the conclusion but rather could support it.

**Answer:** (a)

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer